Clasp for bracelets



July 31. 1928. 1,678,707

A. L. NEWMAN CLASP FOR BRACELETS Filed March 2. 1928 .46 if?! fz'f/Patented July 31, 1928. I

` yUNITED STATES ALMYR L. NEWMAN, OF WARVICK, RHODE ISLAND.

CLASP non BRACELETS.

"fm-j@ Application inea March 2, 192s. serial No. 258,605.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clasping-device whereinthe coupling-` or clasping-means may be folded' closely against thebracelet link or unit to provide a smooth unbroken surface without sharpedges or projections liable to catch in the garments of the wearer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clasping-device which isneat and more finished in appearance, and sturdier and more durable inluse than similar devices heretofore employed for like purposes.

Further objects of ther improvement are set forth in the followingspecification which describes a preferred form of construction of theinvention as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a conventionaltype of flexiblewrist-watch bracelet and showing my improved claspingdevice as appliedto use therewith;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the bracelet withits link-elements shown in section on the line 2#2 of Fig. 3, and one ofthe links illustrated as embodying the present improved clasping-device;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the link-elements shown in part section on theline 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional viewv of the link unit carrying theclasping-device, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a composite view showing one of the box-link units of thebracelet in perspective andalso illustrating the center link whichcarries the clasping-device ywith the clasp shown as open; and

Fig. 6Lis a perspectiveview of the inner slide-linkof the bracelet. l

The present improved' clasping-device is adapted for use with varioustypes offlexible and expansible link bracelets such as commonly used onwrist-watches, and I have preferred to herein illustrate a form ofconstruction of the bracelet as disclosed in my copending applicationfor Letters Patentl Serial No. 205,117, filed July 12, 1927 As hereinshown the bracelet proper comprises a series of outer tubular box-links2 assembled with inner slidable connectinglinks 3 which are normallymaintained telescoped within the box-links under tension of suitablecoil-springs 4. In Figs. 2 to 6 of the `present drawings thelink-elements are shown in inverted' position or bottom side up ascompared withfthe position they assume in the bracelet. The box-links 2are formed with relatively flat top-portions 5 having sides 6 bent atright-angles thereto, and bottom-portions 7 folded inwardly therefromwith their edges meeting in closely abutting relation at 8. Thebottom-sections 7 of the box-link 2 have tabs or extensions 9 at one endwhich are folded inwardly and cut away to form a cross-bar 10 to providemeans for coupling or hooking vthe next adjacent slidelink thereto.k Theopposite end of the boxlink 2 is provided with ears or tabs 11 bentinwardly to serve `as abutment-s for the .spring 4, the ears beingspaced away from the sides 6 of the link to adapt the sides of theslide-link 3 to slide therebetween.

The inner slide-link takes the form ofy a shallow tray having arelatively flat topportion 15, sides 16 bent at right-angles thereto andan end-strip 17 extending be-y tween thesides.l At its opposite end thetopportion 15 is extended beyond the sides and bent around to form ahook 21, see Figs. 2 and 3. The hook 19 on one of the slides, shown inFig. 6which is employed for connection with the link carrying theclaspmember is cut, away to form a rectangular slot or opening 20, seealso Fig. 5. The, slides 3 are inserted in the tubular box-links 2before the end-tabs or ears 11 are folded inwardly fromitsbottom-strips, the spring 4 being placed inside the slide-link withone end abutting its end-strip 17. The ears 11 are then bent-downwardly-to engage the opposite end of thespriiig to hold it under compressionwhereby its acts to normally maintain the slides telescoped within thebox-link 2 while providing for drawing it out therefrom to expand thebracelet. The hooks 21 on the slides 3 which are connected permanentlywith the adjacent box-links 2 are narrowed or out away at their ends toadapt them to be inserted through the openings between the tabs 9 andbent around the cross-bars 10 in the manner as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 ofthe drawings. This con-v struction provides for assembling the linkunitswith the slide 3 in one box-link 2 hingedly coupled to the end of thenext ad jacent box-link in the series.

In the present typey of flexible and expansible bracelet it hasheretofore been the usual practice to couple the link-units togetherpermanently, for example in the manner as last explained, and with thisarrangement it is necessary lto stretch or extend the bracelet inslipping it over the hand when applying it to or removing it from thewrist. It has been found, however, that, this repeated stretching` orextending of the linkelements soon weakens the springs so that they losetheir te-nsion and fail to act to maintain the links in telescoped orcontracted relation. The connections between the links of the bracelettherefore become loose with the joints open so that the bracelet doesnot sit snugly on the wrist.

Bracelets* of the present type generally have a fasteni`ng-device orclasp 22' at either end, as shown in Fig. 1, for attachment to the bailsof the wrist-watch and in some instances these clasps are resorted tofor fastening the bracelet in place on the wrist and removing ittherefrom. The bail clasps, however, are not intended for this purposeand are liable to get outoforder. and become insecure for attaching thebracelet to the wrist-watch. It has therefore been proposed to provide aclasping-device at the center of the band or bracelet for fastening itstwo opposite sections together to provide for its convenient applicationto and removal from the wrist. It -isl the object ofthe presentinventionv to provide a claspingdevice for this purpose and the improvedconstruction andv arrangement of the device will next be de scribed indetail.

Usually the clasping device is applied to the central link in thebracelet so that it may be divided into two equal sectionswhen it isunclasped to place it on or remove it from the wrist. In the presentconstruction the central box-link 23, shown in detail in Fig. 5, is ofsubstantially the same form and ar rangement as the other box-links 2,having a flat top-portion 24, sides 25 bent downwardlytherefrom andbottom-,strips 26 fold ed over to meet at the center. At one end of thebox-link 23 are tabs 27 bent down to form a cross-bar 36, shown in Fig.2, similar in construction to the cross-bar 10 on the other box-links 2.The opposite end of the box-link 23 is constructed without the inwardlybent tabs or ears, but is provided with a cross-pin 28 reaching acrossits opening with its ends riveted through holes' in the sides 25. Thetop-portion 24 is outy away at this end of the link to` provide a recess29 for receiving the end of the clasp 30 to be next described.

The clasp 30 is of bifurcated shape, comprising a cross-strip 31connecting the ends of two arms 32 which straddle the sides of thebox-link 23` and are fastened to the ends of a pivot-pin 33 reachingtherethrough.

The pivot-pin 33 projects through holes in l the sides 25 of the link 23and its ends are riveted or swagedl overI tohold the latch 30 in place.At the center of the cross-strip 3'1 is a relatively narrow stripl ortab l34 bentv` into involute shape to form a latch adapted to slideacross and spring into place in hooked relation with the cross-pinI 28'at the end of the link 23. The forward edge of the cross-ban 31 isbeveled off on its under side, asl shown most clearly in Fig. 5, toprovide a lip 35 beneath which the fingernail may bel inserted tofacilitate lifting the latch to` dis engage it from the cross-pin 28. vThe latch or hook 34 is adapted to slide through the opening 2O in theend-hook 19 on the slide 3 after the latter has' been hooked around thecross-pin 28,` as shown in Fig.y 2 of thek by the dotted lines in Fig.2i. The linger is then pressed against the cross-bar 31 of the `clasp 30to swing it `into place to carry' its latch 34 through -thel openingk 20in the hook 19 whereby to cause its end to snap over the pin 28 and toengage frictionally therewith..`

The resiliency ofthe latch 34Ymainta-insf itin this locking engagementwith thepin 28andy the clasp is thereby securely fastened to preventuncoupling of the parts of thebracel'et; itV being understood that thehook 19 is'pree vented from release from the pin 28 throughtheinterengagement of the latch 34 with the openingV 2O in the hook.That is to say, the hook 19 is held from beingturned to such an extentas to release it from the pin 28` or from moving back or raising up toel'ect such release. Y

To unfasten the two ends of the braceletsections it is only necessarykLto insertjthe fingernail under the lip 35 on the' clasp30 to raise orswing ftheflatter awayv from the top of the box-link' 23, whereby: thelatch 34 is withdrawn from engagementwith the pin 28. After the clasp 30has been swung into open position asv indicated byA the d'ottedlines inFig. 2the hook4 19 may' be readily disconnected from the pin 28;. f

- It, will be observed from, the: above, that ilu my invention providesa particularly simple and elicient device for securely clasping the endsof the bracelet together. The improved clasping-device is strong andsturdy in construction with its parts proof against derangement orgetting out of order so as to render it durable over long periods ofuse.

When the clasp 30 is closed the cross-strip 31 lits snugly within therecess or cut-away portion 29 at the end of the box-link 23, aliningwith the top-portion 24: of the link and forming an unbroken surfacetherewith. There are therefore no unsightly joints or openings betweenthe parts and no projections or irregularities liable to catch in thegarments of the wearer.

lVhile I have herein described and illustrated the improved device in apreferred form of construction by way of example, it is to be understoodthat various modifications may be made in the structure and arrangementof its parts without depart-ing from the spirit or scope of theinvention. Therefore without limiting myself in this respect I claim:

1. In a clasping-device for bracelets or the like, the combination of alink having a cross-member at its end, a second link having a hook atits end adapted to hook around one side of the cross-member, and apivoted clasp on one link provided with a latch adapted to slide acrossand engage with the cross-member on the opposite side from the hook. i

2. In a clasping-device for bracelets or the like, the combination of alink-element having a cross-member at its end, a second linkelementhaving a hook at its end adapted to hook partly around the cross-memberon the first link-element, and a clasp pivoted to the sides of the firstlink-element and provided at its end with a latch adapted to be sprunginto engagement with the cross-member on the opposite side from thehook.

3. In a clasping-device for bracelets or the like, the combination of alink-element having a cross-member at its end, a second linkelementhaving a relatively wide hook at its end adapted to hook around thecrossmember throughout its length and provided with an opening at itscenter, and a clasp pivoted to the rst-link-element and provided with arelatively narrow latch at its end adapted to slide through the openingin they hook on the second link-element and to frictionally engage withthe cross-member on the opposite side from the hook.

4. In a clasping-device for bracelets or the like, the combination of ahollow'boxlink having a cross-member extending across its open end, alink-element having a relatively wide hook adapted to hook around saidcross-member on the box-link and formed with an opening in its side, anda bifurcated clasp-member pivoted to the Sides of the box-link andprovided with a latch at its end adapted to slide through'the opening inthe hook on the link-element and to frictionally engage around the sideof the cross-member in opposite relation to the hook.

5. In a clasping-device for watch-bracelets or the like, the combinationof a boxlink having a relatively fiat top cut away at one end to providea recess, a pin extending across the open end of the box-link, abifurcated clasp-member having a crossstrip with arms extendingtherefrom in straddled relation with the sides of the boxlink andpivoted thereto at their ends and a latch at the center of thecross-strip adapted to spring around the cross-pin on the boxlink, and asecond link having a relatively wide hook adapted to hook aroundthe'crosspin on the box-link and provided with an opening in its side,the clasp being adapted to be closed into position with its cross-stripseated in the opening on the top of the boxlink and its latch projectingthrough the opening in the hook on the second link with its endfrictionally engaged with the crossy pin to hold the parts in connectedrelation.

6. In a bracelet or like article, the combination of tubular box-links,a slide slidable in one of the box-links with its end projectingtherefrom and formed into a hook, a cross-pin extending across theopening in the next adjacent box-link to adapt it to be engaged by thehook on the slide, and a clasping-device comprising a bifurcated memberpivoted on thel last mentioned box-link and provided at its end with alatch adapted to slide past the hook on the slide-link to frictionallyengage with the cross-pin to lock the parts in connected relation. j

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

ALMYR L. NEWMAN.

MBU

